William Atkins
Friday, 16 January 2009 02:58
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
On January 15, 2009, NASA announces an important discovery, the first of its kind: Methane is being actively produced in the atmosphere of the planet, which confirms that Mars is not dead but geologically or biologically active.
The NASA media release “
Discovery of methane reveals Mars is not a dead planet” states that
“A team of NASA and university scientists has achieved the first definitive detection of methane in the atmosphere of Mars. This discovery indicates the planet is either biologically or geologically active.”
The discovery was made by observing the planet with three telescopes at the
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the
W.M. Keck Observatory, both located at Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
The observations of methane on Mars were made at several northern longitudinal locations during early- and late-summer of 2003 and near
“vernal equinox" in 2006.
Specifically, the scientists used spectrometers (devices to measure properties of radiation (light) over various portions of the electromagnetic spectrum) attached on the telescopes in order to identify the spectral features that highlight the chemical characteristics of the compound methane.
Methane has a molecular formula ofCH
4 (four atoms of hydrogen [H] attached to one atom of carbon [C]).
On Earth, methane in the atmosphere is eventually oxidized, which produces carbon dioxide and water. Our methane is produced from such biological sources as livestock animals (such as cows when they digest nutrients and expel waste) and from such geological sources as volcanoes and iron oxidation.
Methane is the primary ingredient of natural gas.
Page two reports on comments from Dr. Mumma, the lead author of the Mars study on methane.
